Rashard Lewis gets 7-year deal to remain with Sonics

Rashard Lewis' deadline was in his own mind. The Sonics' Oct. 1 training camp start date neared and he sat in his native Houston home without a contract or team to play for.

The suspense of a summer-long contract negotiation with the Sonics consumed him.

"Everyone could tell he was getting stressed," said Lewis' mother, Juanita Brown. "We started really talking about everything, getting down to his true feelings, last Thursday or Friday and finally I said, 'Hey, call them.' "

Lewis dialed Sonics Coach Nate McMillan's number early Saturday morning and told McMillan he wanted the contract settled. Yesterday it was finally signed, and no one looked more elated than the often-reserved Lewis, who wore a smile throughout his news conference.

Lewis, 23, signed a seven-year contract that Sonics sources said was $60 million, with an additional $15 million to Lewis in incentives. Lewis' Houston-based agent, Carl Poston, confirmed only the length of the contract.

Lewis, a 6-foot-10 forward, is the second large contract signing under new owners Howard Schultz and The Basketball Club of Seattle. In 2001, the Sonics signed center Calvin Booth to a six-year, $34 million contract.

"I was nervous all summer," Lewis said. "I wanted to get it done sooner because I didn't want to be a holdout during training camp. I need training camp. That's where I get into shape and work with the coaches and jell with the team."

Lewis spoke of the Sonics being his family and said he wanted his contract resolved shortly after he became an unrestricted free agent in July, but those words were a twist from what he said then. Lewis told media he was insulted by the Sonics' original offer of $60 million with $15 million in incentives and threatened to leave the team.

Seeking a $90 million contract, Lewis visited Dallas in July and thought about joining the Mavericks or possibly the Houston Rockets, close to where he had gone to high school. Neither team had the salary-cap room to offer Lewis any more than $15 million for three years, though. Lewis and his agent then asked the Sonics for a sign-and-trade deal that could have given Lewis the payday he wanted, but the Sonics didn't budge.

Yesterday Lewis and Poston denied he ever seriously looked at another team. Poston said the holdup had more to do with the length of the contract and other factors such as the luxury tax the Sonics could face if they go over the salary cap. Sonics General Manager Rick Sund said the team shouldn't go over, however.

"I was not necessarily close to going to another team," said Lewis, who is currently looking for a home in the area. "In my heart I knew that coming back to Seattle was the only thing that was going to make me happy."

Lewis was drafted out of Alief-Elsik High School by the Sonics in the second round (32nd pick overall) in the 1998 NBA draft. The organization watched him grow from a teary-eyed kid on draft day, sad he wasn't a lottery pick as projected, to the team's second-leading scorer last season (16.8). He also led the team in rebounding (7.0).

More will be expected of Lewis this season because of the big contract and the trade of forward Vin Baker. McMillan said Lewis is going to be the second option for the team's offense after point guard Gary Payton, and said he expects Lewis to be a leader. McMillan said Lewis has many areas where he can improve.

"Rashard has a lot of growing to do," McMillan said. "He's played a lot off the ball and now he's going to play a lot more on the ball. This year Rashard and Gary are the two guys we're focusing on to carry this team."

Signing Lewis ends all interest the Sonics had in free agents Lee Nailon, Walt Williams and Popeye Jones.

Payton is still a swirling question mark, though. Facing the final year of a seven-year contract, he wants a contract extension. Told last season he wouldn't receive one, Payton said this week he wanted an extension or there's a 50 percent chance he will not return to the team. Sonics President Wally Walker, Schultz and Sund each said there would be no negotiations until after the season.

"I'd be surprised if he were not at camp," Sund said. "He's too competitive of a person and he knows that's the time when the team really comes together."

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com.